Harry Price was one of the very first paranormal investigators. He was one was a man who took all of this head on, despite the endless ridicule. He captured some insane evidence and did some crazy investigations. However, throughout his career, there was one that stood out and one that captured the attention of the entire world. Borley Rectory.

Happier days at the Rectory, when it was properly looked-after. Harry Bull stands proudly on the tennis-lawn. with his wife and step-daughter reclining. ( Image Source Here )

The Haunting of Borley Rectory

Borley Rectory has been around since 1863 when it was constructed for a Reverend Henry Bull and his four daughters. Before all of this, these grounds were actually home to an ancient covenant and monastery. These grounds were already home to a ghostly nun, the locals had reported seeing her stalking the grounds. She and a monk had been executed after trying to elope. The monk was beheaded, but the nun was sealed into the cellar walls, bricked in whilst screaming and still alive… If that´s not a cause for a haunting, I don’t know what is.

The Reverend and his daughters had already seen this ghostly nun before the locals came to warn him. Over time the nun became more difficult to live with, she was scaring the children and servants too much. But they managed to stay there and the last of the Bull family died in 1928, all of whom lived in the old manor house and became used to the spirit of the nun.

After the last of the Bull family died out, the rectory was bought by another Reverend. Reverend Eric Smith, his wife and their children moved in, October 1928. They were not welcome. The activity started day´s after they moved in, it was a lot more violent than it had been with its previous owners. However, it really got unbearable when Smith´s wife found a human skull in the basement. They began to hear footsteps running in the corridors at night, hovering lights were seen in the garden by the children looking out the window, doorbells would be rung and no one would be there, not to mention

However, it really got unbearable when Smith´s wife found a human skull in the basement. They began to hear footsteps running in the corridors at night, hovering lights were seen in the garden by the children looking out the window, doorbells would be rung and no one would be there, not to mention the harsh poltergeist activity. So they called the Society for Psychical Research, who in turn sent no other than Mr Harry Price. If the spirits had a dislike for the Smith family, it was nothing compared to the way the house reacted to Harry.

Harry Price Investigates

Harry Price.

Harry Price was well known for his communication with the other side, but the spirits here were angered by his attempts. Price´s presence in the rectory seem to rile up the spirits and they became aggressive. He reported that objects would smash around him and that stones would be hurled at him. He reported that it was the spirit of Harry Bull who had perished here in the years gone. Two years of this and Smith took his family and left the rectory, he never looked back. With the property vacant Price soon followed.

In 1929 the lands were passed into the ownership of Reverend Lionel Foyster and his family. This time the spirits took a particular interest in the Reverend´s wife, Marianne Foyster and it didn’t take long for the rectory to show its true nature.

She became the target, objects would be thrown with force and directed at her, but there was another type of activity. Writing began to appear on the walls, a lot of it was incomprehensible but she could recognise her name. Marianne.

The Borley writings.

A lot of the writing, as you can see was impossible to make out, but the words help and Marianne are clear. This went on for a long time until Mr Foyster, like his predecessor, had enough but he did not leave his home, he decided to try an exorcism instead.

For a short time, this did seem like the solution to the frightful events at the Borley Rectory. But the activity soon returned only this time around, they were a lot more intent to drive Foysters from there rectory. Communion wine turned to ink, servant bells and church bells went off with no cause. It would seem that the ghosts were only just getting started. The Foyster children were dragged from their beds, the youngest of them was even slapped across the face. The Reverend like Mr Smith before him packed his possessions and took himself and the family from their home.

Price Investigates 2.0

Image captured of Borley Rectory’s resident nun.

In 1937 Borley Rectory lay dormant, it had scared off all of its residents. However, one man remained unphased. Harry Price remained throughout the years interested in the manifestations at the rectory. Later in the year of 1937 he took it upon himself to take ownership of the rectory ,and gather the evidence needed to prove that the dead don’t always rest.

When he arrived he hired an assistant to help him with his research, then invited 48 witnesses and launched one of the largest paranormal investigations in history. The investigations went on for over a year and a lot of credible evidence was recorded. But in 1938 during a seance the most incredible event took place. The spirit contacting Price and his guests were told that the Rectory would burn down and the body of the nun would be discovered amongst the ruin. However, it took a whole year for this evidence to come to light.

Borley Rectory Post Fire.

Price’s tenancy was up. Next in line to attempt enduring the rectories horrors was Captain Gregson. He too eventually fell victim to the horrors that resided within the Borley Rectory, but he lost his two dogs. Both of which died at the same time for reasons unknown. Shortly afterwards, while the Captain was out for a walk, he came back to find his home engulfed by fresh flame. Many villagers later claimed to see the vision of a nun standing amongst the flames, staring down at them from the top window… It was later discovered that the fire was caused by a smashed oil lamp. However, Captain Gregson swore, until the day he died that he never even lit an oil lamp that day.

Borley Rectory 2016

The site where the rectory once stood.

The remains of the rectory were left until 1944 when they were finally demolished. However, there are still reports of strange things occurring on the site of the rectory. The Nun is still said to prowl the grounds in the night, or organ music can be heard. Stranger still, following the demolition the church just a mere walking distance from the Rectory, began to report strange activity. Perhaps not to the same level of the Rectory itself, but there again is it proper for an English church to do such a thing ? After all in the eyes of the church, the dead are dead and gone to rest.

So, was this or is this Britain’s most haunted location ? If so the activity reported here does not seem that of a executed nun… Sure she would be angry enough to smash some pots and clang some pans, however, if we look into history and similar hauntings, the events that took place here do not seem to be caused by a human spirit. Perhaps something summoned by the murder ? But how will we every find out… Simple, get over to the rectory and the church, get investigating and share your evidence ! We look forward to hearing all about it.